Yogyakarta, 14 July 2025 — The Centre for Indigenous and Cultural Psychology (CICP), Faculty of Psychology, Gadjah Mada University, officially opened the 2025 International Summer Course series themed ‘Beyond Boundaries: Reflection and Forward Looking into Psychology and Culture’. This online event marks the 15th anniversary of CICP’s journey in developing and strengthening indigenous and cultural psychology approaches in Indonesia and the Global South.
The opening session was led by Prof. Kwartarini Wahyu Yuniarti, the founder and Director of CICP, who delivered a lecture titled ‘The Development and Evolution of Culture and Indigenous Psychology Over the Years (15 Years).’ In her presentation, Prof. Kwartarini encouraged participants to reflect on the position and direction of psychology, particularly within non-Western societies. She traced the history and development of local research that formed the foundation for the establishment of CICP in 2010, and emphasised the importance of developing theories and approaches rooted in the social and cultural contexts of communities themselves.
The session was also enlivened by the launch of an anthology video featuring reflective messages from key figures in the development of indigenous psychology, including Prof. Faturochman (UGM) and Associate Professor Rogelia Pe-Pua (University of New South Wales). Both expressed appreciation for CICP’s contributions and emphasised the importance of equitable international collaboration in the development of just psychological knowledge.
Additionally, the opening lecture was complemented by a presentation from Sri Lestari, M.Si., representing the Association of Indigenous and Cultural Psychology (APIK), which co-hosted the event. She highlighted APIK’s role in building research infrastructure and academic collaboration based on local wisdom. From Southeast Asia, Dr. Rozel Balmores-de Vera (Philippines), a representative of the Southeast Asian Indigenous Psychology (SEAIP), also shared her perspective on the importance of cross-national solidarity in developing a contextual and relational psychology agenda.
This year, the Summer Course was attended by 47 participants from various countries, including Indonesia (24 participants), Malaysia (5), Brazil (5), China (2), Chile (2), Mozambique (2), Taiwan (1), and India (1). The participants were graduate students, academics, and professionals interested in cross-cultural psychology issues, participatory approaches, and the decolonisation of knowledge.
This event was organised in collaboration with various international institutions as co-hosts, namely:
- APIK (Asosiasi Psikologi Indigenus dan Kultural)
- SEAIP (Southeast Asian Indigenous Psychology Network)
- Global South Network of Cultural Psychology
- Jaan Valsiner Foundation: University Beyond Border
- Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)
- Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
- Konsorsium Psikokultural Indonesia (KPI)
The Summer Course will run until 8 August 2025, featuring lecture modules by international experts, reflective discussions, and student forums. In the spirit of reflection and collaboration, CICP hopes this initiative will expand the network of indigenous and cultural psychology grounded in equality, local relevance, and cross-border dialogue.